Huntington District

            Fifty years ago the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dedicated the Sutton Dam in Sutton, W.Va., and to mark the anniversary, a ceremony will be held at the dam’s Downstream Day Use Area on Friday, July 22 at 6 p.m.

            Speakers at the ceremony include Huntington District Commander Col. Robert Peterson, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito and Kelley Goes, State Director for Sen. Joe Manchin. The program will recognize those who worked on the construction of the dam along with retirees.

            The event is part of the 3rd Annual Mountain Lakes Festival, which includes a number of activities at Sutton Lake, including a bass tournament, a 5-kilometer run across the dam and through the town of Sutton, a cook-off, a kid’s fishing contest, a professional jet-ski demonstration, an “Anything That Floats But a Boat” contest, a water skiing demonstration, musical performances and a fireworks display.

            Congress originally authorized the construction of Sutton Dam in 1938, but construction didn’t start until 1949. It was halted by the Korean War, and resumed in 1956.  The completed project was dedicated July 8, 1961.

            Over the past 50 years, the 210-foot-high concrete dam has provided more than $404 million in flood damage reduction.

             For more information, contact Public Affairs at 304-399-5353.

   The Huntington District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has determined that conditions exist in the outlet works area at Tappan Lake near Uhrichsville, Ohio, that could result in the presence and possible release of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gases.

   Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas that can be easily recognized by its “rotten egg” odor. Symptoms of exposure to high levels of H2S include fatigue, dizziness, nausea and headaches. Young children are at particular risk.

   This problem is confined to the area adjacent to the outlet works only and the condition does not pose a problem to recreational users of the lakes. There is no indication that fish taken from these lakes pose a health risk if consumed.

   The Corps has developed a plan of action to monitor H2S levels. Project employees will take readings to detect any presence of H2S gases around the outlet works and surrounding areas. In the event that H2S gases at any public access site reaches levels that could pose a health risk to the public, those areas will be closed.

   Due to public safety, the area immediately adjacent to the discharges at Tappan Lake has been closed and will remain closed until the problem naturally corrects itself in the fall. Hydrogen sulfide forms when the concentrations of sulfates in the watershed immediately behind these dams are higher than normal.

   During the summer months, the sulfates are converted to hydrogen sulfide gas through microbial activity occurring in the bottom layers of the lake. As the water leaves the lake, the hydrogen sulfide gas is released into the air, creating an unhealthy situation in the tailwater areas.

   Corps personnel will continue to monitor the situation for the presence of H2S and will notify appropriate agencies as well as the public if H2S concentration levels are determined to pose a threat to public safety.

   For more information, please contact the Muskingum Area Office at 330-343-3613 or the Public Affairs Office at 304-399-5353.